Dynamo 3, Chivas USA 0 - postgame notes

The Houston Dynamo crushed Chivas USA 3-0 Saturday
afternoon at Robertson Stadium, getting highlight-reel goals from Geoff
Cameron and Lovel Palmer in the first half and posting their first
shutout of the year.

The Dynamo improve to 2-1-1 (7 points), the best four-game start in
team history. The previous mark was their 2-2 record (6 points) in
2006. It was Houston’s largest margin of victory in an MLS game since
beating Toronto FC 3-0 on May 30, 2009.

Houston is now 7-0-3 in its last 10 games against Chivas USA, and the
Dynamo ran their shutout streak against Chivas USA at Robertson Stadium
to 802 minutes by posting their eighth consecutive home shutout against
the LA-based club. The Dynamo have outscored Chivas USA 18-1 all-time
at Robertson Stadium (7-0-2 record).

Midfielder Geoff Cameron opened the scoring in the 12th minute.
Defender Eddie Robinson headed a clearance to midfielder Corey Ashe,
making his first start of the season, and Ashe found Cameron making a
run through the Chivas USA defense. Cameron used the outside of his
right foot to strike a fierce drive inside the left post for his first
goal of the 2010 season.

The Dynamo made it 2-0 in the 20th minute when midfielder Lovel Palmer,
making his first start with the Dynamo in his third game after being
signed from Jamaican club Harbour View, unleashed a ferocious 40-yard
shot into the top right corner of the net, a sure candidate for MLS
Goal of the Week.

Houston wrapped the game up in the 65th minute, when defender Mike
Chabala and midfielder Brad Davis combined on the left, with Davis
getting into the penalty area and drawing the attention of the Chivas
USA defense before chipping a pass to Houston forward Dominic Oduro for
a simple tap-in. It was Oduro’s second MLS goal with the Dynamo – both
against Chivas USA.

Defender Mike Chabala earned two assists on the day, tying his career
high set in a 4-3 win vs. D.C. United on August 1, 2009. Defender Eddie
Robinson earned his first assist since 2007 on Cameron’s goal.

18-year-old midfielder Francisco Navas Cobo, a preseason signing from
the Dynamo Academy, became the first Houston home-grown player to
appear in a game when he made his professional debut as a late
substitute.

Defender Bobby Boswell made his 140th career MLS start. MidfielderCorey Ashe made his 75th career appearance in an MLS regular season
game. Midfielder Brad Davis, the Dynamo’s all-time leader in assists,
ran his total to 45 in all competitions when he set up Oduro’s goal.
Midfielder Adrian Serioux made his first appearance of the season and
first for Houston since the 2006 MLS Cup final when he came on as a
late substitute.

On the play of his midfielders …
“We talked before the game, and we said if [Lovel Palmer and Geoff
Cameron] win the battle in there, it could be very positive for us. I
didn’t know it was going to be that positive and that impactful. But I
thought both of them played very well today. I was encouraging Geoff to
make late runs from midfield. It was a great ball from Corey and a
great finish. So all the things were clicking for us. Defensively, they
were very solid, and obviously attacking-wise they helped us out a lot
today.”

On Lovel Palmer …
“I thought he was good all-around. His goal was fantastic. We saw him
hit a goal similar to that against Dallas in preseason down in Orlando.
In practice, we noticed that he can strike a ball from distance. He’s
not far off when he shoots. What a wonderful goal in his first start
for the team. I thought overall him and Geoff working together; they
made it very difficult to break down. They were very helpful on the
offensive side, so I was very happy.”

DYNAMO MIDFIELDER LOVEL PALMER

On his first start …
“Coach Dom brought me here for a reason. He paid good money for me to
leave Jamaica and come here, and I’m just trying to repay the favor.
I’m here to just play as well as possible for the Dynamo and try to
help them win the championship.”

DYNAMO MIDFIELDER BRAD DAVIS

On Lovel Palmer …
“Lovel has come in and done a fantastic job. Even in Orlando, you could
tell he had the skill and ability to fit in with this team. All the
guys love him, he’s a great guy, and obviously his play is speaking for
itself.”

On the third goal …
“[Mike Chabala] played a great ball to me. [Brian Mullan] made a run,
and the defender had to make a choice, and he decided to come in and
tackle. I made a good touch around him, and I think they both thought I
was going to shoot and went down, so I just chipped it to [Dominic
Oduro], and he finished it.”